Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-27
WEDNESDAY. July 81, 1887.
The Platform.

The Platform.
1t may now be regarded as pretty
well settled that there will be no trouble
in the Roanoke convention on the sub
iect of the State debt. There never
was any good reason for fearing that
that body would recommend the pay
ment Of more of that debt than the
RIDDLEnRRGER bill provides for paying;
for the people of Virginia have made
known their determination as to that
point too frequently and too forcefully
to have left any room for doubt in re-
gard TO it. But we did once fear that
there would be in the Roanoke conven-
tion n considerable number of delegates
DESTROYS of pledging the Democratic
party TO the support of a constitutional
amendment looking TO downright re-
pudiation.
Some Of these delegates were ex-
pected to come, if from anywhere from
the Southwest. But as yet none such
have been appointed; and the report
contained in our Issue Of yesterday of
the proceedings of the Democrats Of
Washington county on Monday last
satisfies us that tho southwestern Demo
Gratis will stand with the rest of the
Democrats of Virginia. General IN
BoDTN said in that meeting that the
people of Washington county were
unanimously in favor of the RIDDLE
BERGER settlement. Mr.. FULEE8soS
offered resolution in effect instr1lcting
the delegates from that county to stand
lv the RuDDLEBEEGE8 settlement. Ihis
was a good resolution. SO was Judge
RHEA's suggestion that the Roanoke
convention ought to favor no settle
mont that gave the bondholders more
than the RIDDLrBEEGER bill offers them.
MIR. TRIGGs substitute for all the other
propositions was adopted. 1t was to
the effect that 10 agitation of the debt
question be entertained by the county
meeting, and recommended the Roa-
noke convention to do likewise.
We understand all these competing
PROPOSITIONS to be substantially the
same. That is, we suppose Mr.. TRIGG
desires the Roanoke convention to have
and to occasion no "agitatiOn of the
debt question; yet he must be in favor
of declaration of purpose to stand by
the RlDDLEBERGER bill, as General M
BoDEN says that all the people of Wash
ington county are i'll favor of that bill.
Mr.. FULKERsON's resolution was III
terms in favor of adhering to that set
Element. And AS Judge RHEAs propO-
sition was that no more of the debt
should be paid than that settlement
provides for paying, We infer that he Is
willing for the Roanoke convention to
pledge the Democratic party to the
payment Of as much as that settlement
provides for paying.
IL NAV now be inferred from the
facts above recited and from the tone OF
the Democratic papers and speakers
and county meetings that the debt
plank Of the Democratic State Con-
vention will be something like the fol-
lowing:
Resoiccd, That we endorse the action
of the Democratic Legislature at its re-
cent extra session declining to accept
the plan Of settlement proposed by the
foreign bondholders ; and as In 1888,
1884, and 1885 we gave, SO now We re-
new to the people Of Virginia the as.
surance that we intend to stand to and
abide by the Mddleberger settlement.
Surely, it is important to let the for
eipn bondholders know that the people
Of Virginia endorse the action of the
Legislature in refusing to accept their
one-sided proposition.
p. S.-Since the above was put into
the hands of the printer we have re
ceived copy of the resolutions adopted
by the Democratic meeting in Bedford
county last Monday. They were offered
by w. w. BERRY, Esq, and are as they
follow:
ResoIced, That We heartily endorse
The action of the Legislature in reject
ing the propositions Of the British
bondholders.
Resolved, That we are unanimously
opposed to any increase III tho resent
rate Of taxation.
ResOicod, That we affirm the right
and duty OF the State first OF all to
provide for the payment of its ordinary
county expenses as thing OF necessity
TO the perpetuation of ITS existence.
Rcsolred, That the State is equally
bound to provide for the support of its
asylums, its public schools and col
leges, and to help care for the manned
and we are opposed to any diminishing
OF its appropriations for these objects
in tho interest Of the bondholders.
Resolved, That We re-endorse the
resolutions OF the Lynchburg conven
ton endorsing the kiddleberger bill
and the settlement therein provided.
Resolved, That We approve OF The
course Of our citizens in paying theil
taxes in money and urge them to 70
frain from the use OF coupons.
That, too, is good platform.